ALBANY, N.Y. — Brick by brick, floor by floor, a more than century and a half old building in downtown Albany came down Thursday evening.

A demolition crew started to take down 6 E-Comm Square after the city was alerted of a massive roof collapse Thursday morning. Albany Fire Chief Joseph Gregory says the roof went through several floors and into the basement.

"Assuming that it was from the severe weather from the last few days or week or so, that was a contributing factor in its deterioration,” he said.

Engineers later ruled the building unsafe. An emergency demolition was ordered. Gregory says the roof was in a state of collapse prior to Thursday and it had been under supervision.

The four-story structure at Broadway and Division Street was built in the 1840s, but it has been unoccupied for about 20 years. The Albany Convention Center Authority currently owns the building.

"You're dealing with a demolition by neglect for many years," said Jack McEneny, a former assemblyman and an Albany historian. 

The ACCA purchased the building in 2010. According to Executive Director Duncan Stewart, the plan was to turn it into a hotel as part of the Albany Convention Center project.

But that center ended up being built up the hill on Eagle Street.

"It is unfortunate with many other aspects," said Assemblyman John McDonald, who also sits on the authority's board. "No one likes to see a building torn down by any stretch of the imagination."

The ACCA is currently in the process of handing the building off to Capitalize Albany for a minimal sum. But the ACCA will be responsible for paying back Albany the $675,000 cost to demolish the building.

Gregory says the whole demolition operation will take several days. Division Street and Liberty Street remain closed. Broadway reopened shortly before 9 p.m.